181- Pirates of the Malabar Coast (S11E31)

A History of India

In this gripping episode, we set sail beyond the familiar waters of Caribbean piracy and plunge into the far more complex and underexplored world of piracy in the Indian Ocean—focusing especially on the Malabar Coast. Drawing from a rich collection of historical sources, we uncover how piracy in this region was not just a criminal nuisance but a deeply entrenched force shaping maritime politics, trade, and colonial ambitions. We spotlight the formidable Angria clan, who defied the British East India Company with fortified strongholds and blockades, challenging European control over Indian waters. Alongside these local powers, we examine one of history’s most audacious pirate attacks: Henry Every’s infamous hijacking of the Mughal treasure ship Ganji Sawi, an event that rocked empires and triggered international fallout. Through these narratives, we explore how definitions of piracy were never neutral, but often tools of empire and control.

But this story doesn’t stop with the Indian subcontinent. Expanding our lens, we delve into global examples that complicate the pirate archetype—including the awe-inspiring Zhang Yi Sao, a woman who commanded a fleet of up to 60,000 pirates in the South China Sea and negotiated a peaceful retirement. We also deconstruct the legal and philosophical frameworks that shaped colonial maritime policy, including the slippery distinction between pirates and privateers, and the use of labels like hostis humani generis to justify imperial expansion. By interrogating who gets called a pirate—and why—we uncover how power, economics, and narrative all intersect on the high seas. The episode closes with a provocative reflection: what does this history reveal about the way modern states label resistance, and who gets to write the rules of legitimacy? Join us for a deep dive into a world where law, violence, and resistance collided on the ocean waves.